Conveying device and linear transport system

Abstract

A conveying device for a linear transport system, wherein the conveying device comprises at least one rolling unit and a carrier unit, wherein the carrier unit is of U-shaped configuration and has an outer side and an inner side, wherein the inner side bounds a receiving space for receiving a running rail of the linear transport system, wherein the rolling unit is arranged in the receiving space in a manner spaced apart from the inner side, wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is substantially free from undercuts and/or corners and/or bumps, and/or wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is of substantially smooth configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A linear transport system comprising:
 at least one drive module, 
 a running rail, and 
 a conveying device, 
 wherein the conveying device comprises at least one rolling unit, a magnet arrangement, a bearing arrangement and a carrier unit, 
 wherein the bearing arrangement supports the rolling unit on the carrier unit so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, 
 wherein the bearing arrangement is arranged in the bearing space, 
 wherein the rolling unit has a rolling body comprising a running surface, a closure element and a bearing space, 
 wherein the closure element is connected on the end side to the rolling body and seals the bearing space on the end side in relation to an environment, 
 wherein the running rail has at least one rail running surface, 
 wherein the running surface of the rolling body rests on the rail running surface of the running rail so that the running rail guides the conveying device in a movement, 
 wherein the carrier unit engages around the running rail and the drive module at least in sections, 
 wherein the drive module has a control unit and a stator having a multiplicity of windings, 
 wherein the control unit is connected to the windings and is configured to activate the windings in such a manner that the stator switchably provides a moving magnetic field, and 
 wherein the moving field is operatively connected to the magnet arrangement and the moving field moves the conveying device along the running rail. 
 
     
     
       2. The linear transport system as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the carrier unit has a carrier with a first carrier portion and at least one second carrier portion, 
 wherein the second carrier portion is arranged inclined with respect to the first carrier portion and is connected to the first carrier portion, 
 wherein the inner side on the first carrier portion and on the second carrier portion is of flat configuration at least in sections, and 
 wherein the inner side between the first carrier portion and the second carrier portion is of curved configuration in such a manner that the inner side merges steplessly between the first carrier portion and the second carrier portion. 
 
     
     
       3. A conveying device for a linear transport system,
 wherein the conveying device comprises at least one rolling unit and a carrier unit, 
 wherein the carrier unit is of U-shaped configuration and has an outer side and an inner side, 
 wherein the inner side bounds a receiving space for receiving a running rail of the linear transport system, 
 wherein the rolling unit is arranged in the receiving space in a manner spaced apart from the inner side, 
 wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is substantially free from undercuts and/or corners and/or bumps, and/or wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is of substantially smooth configuration, 
 wherein the carrier unit has a carrier with a first carrier portion and at least one second carrier portion, 
 wherein the second carrier portion is arranged inclined with respect to the first carrier portion and is connected to the first carrier portion, 
 wherein the inner side on the first carrier portion and on the second carrier portion is of flat configuration at least in sections, 
 wherein the inner side between the first carrier portion and the second carrier portion is of curved configuration in such a manner that the inner side merges steplessly between the first carrier portion and the second carrier portion, 
 wherein the carrier is of U-shaped and mirror-symmetrical configuration and has at least one third carrier portion and a fourth carrier portion, 
 wherein the third carrier portion is arranged on a side of the second carrier portion facing away from the first carrier portion and is connected to the second carrier portion, 
 wherein the third carrier portion is arranged inclined with respect to the first carrier portion and second carrier portion, 
 wherein the fourth carrier portion is arranged on a side of the third carrier portion facing away from the second carrier portion and is connected to the third carrier portion, 
 wherein the fourth carrier portion is arranged inclined with respect to the third carrier portion, 
 wherein the second carrier portion and the fourth carrier portion are arranged on a side of the third carrier portion facing the receiving space, 
 wherein the fourth carrier portion bounds a receiving opening of the receiving space on a side facing away from the first carrier portion, and 
 wherein the inner side extends on the inside beyond the carrier portions and is of stepless configuration. 
 
     
     
       4. A conveying device for a linear transport system,
 wherein the conveying device comprises at least one rolling unit and a carrier unit, 
 wherein the carrier unit is of U-shaped configuration and has an outer side and an inner side, 
 wherein the inner side bounds a receiving space for receiving a running rail of the linear transport system, 
 wherein the rolling unit is arranged in the receiving space in a manner spaced apart from the inner side, 
 wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is substantially free from undercuts and/or corners and/or bumps, and/or wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is of substantially smooth configuration, 
 wherein the conveying device comprises a bearing arrangement, 
 wherein the bearing arrangement supports the rolling unit on the carrier unit so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, 
 wherein the rolling unit comprises a rolling body, a closure element and a bearing space, 
 wherein the rolling body has a running surface circumferentially and bounds the bearing space on the inside, 
 wherein the bearing arrangement is arranged in the bearing space, 
 wherein the running surface is configured to lie against a rail running surface of the running rail of the linear transport system and to guide the conveying device along the running rail, and 
 wherein the closure element is connected on the end side to the rolling body and seals the bearing space on the end side in relation to an environment. 
 
     
     
       5. The conveying device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the closure element is of dome-shaped configuration and completely covers the rolling body on the end side. 
     
     
       6. The conveying device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the closure element and the rolling body are formed integrally and from the same material. 
     
     
       7. The conveying device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the rolling body and the closure element are on the outside free from undercuts and/or corners and/or bumps and/or are of substantially smooth configuration. 
     
     
       8. The conveying device as claimed in  claim 4 ,
 wherein the rolling unit has a first sealing element, and 
 wherein the first sealing element closes the bearing space on a side of the rolling body facing away from the closure element. 
 
     
     
       9. The conveying device as claimed in  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first sealing element has a first sealing surface radially on the inside, and a second sealing surface and a sealing outer surface radially on the outside, 
 wherein the first sealing surface lies against a fastener which fastens the bearing arrangement to the carrier unit, 
 wherein the second sealing surface lies against the rolling body on the inside, 
 wherein the sealing outer surface is arranged on a side of the first sealing element facing away from the bearing space, 
 wherein the sealing outer surface is configured in such a manner that a first transition between the fastener and the sealing outer surface and a second transition between an end surface of the rolling body, which end surface faces the first sealing element, and the sealing outer surface are substantially stepless, and 
 wherein the sealing outer surface is of substantially concave configuration with respect to the bearing space, wherein the first sealing element is of wider configuration on the first sealing surface in the axial direction with respect to the axis of rotation than on the second sealing surface. 
 
     
     
       10. The conveying device as claimed in  claim 9 ,
 wherein the carrier unit comprises a second sealing element, 
 wherein the second sealing element is arranged between the carrier and the fastener, and 
 wherein the second sealing element seals the carrier and the fastener in relation to the environment. 
 
     
     
       11. The conveying device as claimed  claim 9 ,
 wherein the carrier and/or the fastener element comprises at least one of the following first materials: stainless steel, V4A steel, plastic, polyethylene, or polytetrafluoroethylene; 
 wherein the rolling unit comprises at least one of the following second materials:
 plastic, or polyketone; and 
 
 wherein the first sealing element comprises at least one of the following third materials:
 plastic, polytetrafluoroethylene, or fluorinated rubber. 
 
 
     
     
       12. A conveying device for a linear transport system,
 wherein the conveying device comprises at least one rolling unit and a carrier unit, 
 wherein the carrier unit is of U-shaped configuration and has an outer side and an inner side, 
 wherein the inner side bounds a receiving space for receiving a running rail of the linear transport system, 
 wherein the rolling unit is arranged in the receiving space in a manner spaced apart from the inner side, and 
 wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is substantially free from undercuts and/or corners and/or bumps, and/or wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is of substantially smooth configuration; and 
 wherein a gap is arranged between the rolling unit and the carrier unit, 
 wherein the gap has a gap width in the axial direction with respect to the axis of rotation, and 
 wherein the gap width is selected in such a manner that a mechanical cleaning device for the mechanical cleaning of the gap can be introduced into the gap. 
 
     
     
       13. The conveying device as claimed in  claim 12 ,
 wherein the gap comprises a radially on the inside arranged rounded portion, 
 wherein the carrier unit comprises a first sealing element and a second sealing element, 
 wherein the rounded portion is substantially bounded by the first sealing element and the second sealing element, 
 wherein the rounded portion has a radius, and 
 wherein the radius is at least 4 mm, or at least 6 mm. 
 
     
     
       14. The conveying device as claimed in  claim 13 ,
 wherein the conveying device comprises a bearing arrangement, 
 wherein the bearing arrangement supports the rolling unit on the carrier unit so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation, 
 wherein the rolling unit comprises a rolling body, a closure element and a bearing space, 
 wherein the rolling body has a running surface circumferentially and bounds the bearing space on the inside, 
 wherein the bearing arrangement is arranged in the bearing space, 
 wherein the running surface is configured to lie against a rail running surface of the running rail of the linear transport system and to guide the conveying device along the running rail, and 
 wherein the closure element is connected on the end side to the rolling body and seals the bearing space on the end side in relation to an environment; and 
 wherein the first sealing element closes the bearing space on a side of the rolling body facing away from the closure element, 
 wherein the second sealing element is arranged between the carrier and the fastener, and 
 wherein the second sealing element seals the carrier and the fastener in relation to the environment. 
 
     
     
       15. A conveying device for a linear transport system,
 wherein the conveying device comprises at least one rolling unit and a carrier unit, 
 wherein the carrier unit is of U-shaped configuration and has an outer side and an inner side, 
 wherein the inner side bounds a receiving space for receiving a running rail of the linear transport system, 
 wherein the rolling unit is arranged in the receiving space in a manner spaced apart from the inner side, 
 wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is substantially free from undercuts and/or corners and/or bumps, and/or wherein the inner side and/or the outer side are/is of substantially smooth configuration, 
 wherein the conveying device comprises a tab, 
 wherein the tab comprises a housing and a signal influencer, 
 wherein the housing has a housing interior in which the signal influencer is arranged, 
 wherein the housing comprises a frame and at least one covering element, 
 wherein the frame bounds the housing interior in sections, and 
 wherein the covering element is arranged laterally on the frame and closes the housing interior. 
 
     
     
       16. The conveying device as claimed in  claim 15 ,
 wherein the covering element is of thin-walled configuration, in the manner of a film, 
 wherein the covering element has a thickness within a range of 0.1 mm to 0.8 mm, and 
 wherein the covering element is connected in an integrally bonded manner to the frame, adhesively bonded thereto. 
 
     
     
       17. The conveying device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the frame and the holding element are formed integrally and from the same material. 
     
     
       18. A conveying device for a linear transport system comprising:
 at least one rolling unit, 
 a magnet arrangement and 
 a carrier unit, 
 wherein the carrier unit is of U-shaped configuration, 
 wherein the carrier unit has a receptacle, 
 wherein the magnet arrangement is arranged in the receptacle, 
 wherein the receptacle is closed on a side facing a drive module of the linear transport system by a further closure element, 
 wherein the further closure element covers the magnet arrangement, 
 wherein the carrier unit has a holding element and a further sealing element, 
 wherein the receptacle is arranged in the holding element, and 
 wherein the further sealing element is arranged between the holding element and the carrier.